By Rita Charleston
For the Times
Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell were teen idols in the 1950s and ’60s. Nowadays, they’re known as the "Golden Boys," and they’re set to appear Aug. 27 through Aug. 29, at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort.
Performing together since 1985, the Golden Boys have combined to sell more than 50 million records and have appeared in more than 40 motion pictures.
Some of the hits they will be performing during their show include Avalon’s Venus, De De Dinah and Bobby Sox to Stockings, Fabian’s Turn Me Loose, Tiger and I’m a Man, and Rydell’s Volare, Wild One and Kissin’ Time. The three stars will also perform a tribute to the legendary material of Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Rick Nelson and Bill Haley.
Avalon, Fabian and Rydell all grew up around the same time in South Philadelphia.
"Fabian and I were born and raised a half a block away from one another on Eleventh Street, and Frankie lived on Ninth Street, just two blocks away," Rydell explained.
"I didn’t know Fabian all that well, but prior to Frankie and I having hit records, we used to go and do shows for veterans hospitals, the USO, things like that."
Avalon was in a band, and on one night when the drummer took ill, he invited Rydell to fill in. That gig was about to change the l4-year-old’s life. Rydell acquired a manager, and his career took off.
But he had begun showing his talents long before that. Born Robert Louis Ridarelli in 1942, he was performing in public for the first time at age 7 as a drummer. By the age of 9, he debuted on Paul Whiteman’s Teen Club amateur television show and became the show’s regular drummer for three years.
He was also gifted at impersonating some of his favorite television personalities and went around the area showing off his talent.
But it was his singing voice that brought him eventual stardom and the attention of millions of fans. He appeared on TV as a semi-regular on programs like the Red Skelton Show and Philadelphia’s own American Bandstand.
An agile dancer and fine actor, Rydell also appeared in several films, most notably Bye Bye Birdie.
Today, Rydell appears as a solo act when not touring with Fabian and Avalon.
"And as far as any ego problems, well," he insisted, "they don’t exist. First of all, we were all kids together, and since putting this act together, we’ve had a lot of fun with it. We’re friends, and we get along great."
In the business for more than four decades, Rydell said he’d be glad to give up the secret to his long-standing success, except he’s not sure he has the right answer.
"I honestly don’t have a clue as to why I’ve been able to last so long in this business and others haven’t," he said. "Hopefully, it’s the talent, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a lot of luck, too.
"The other thing I can attribute it to is the fact that audiences want to hear all of the guys who came up in the late ‘50s and ‘60s. The time was right. Everything was so innocent, and the music was wonderful.
"You know," he added, "when we first started out as ‘The Golden Boys,’ our manager, Dick Fox, decided to get us together to do a summer show. We figured how long can this thing possibly last? A year? Maybe two years tops?
"But here we are almost twenty years later. I think that’s pretty good, don’t you?" oo
For times and ticket information call 1-800-736-1420.